DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.52452#0313
II, 20.
GENERAL RULES OF PROCEDURE.
285
offender. MaWavya acquired the reputation of a
thief in consequence of a decision passed without
considering the circumstances of the case.
14. Dishonest men may seem honest, and honest
men dishonest, so that wrong notions may be easily
created; therefore sentences should be passed after
due consideration of the circumstances only.
15. By killing an aggressor, a man does not
commit sin by any means. He who takes the life of
one approaching with intent to murder him is no
offender.
16. If one abused returns the abuse, or if one
struck strikes again, and kills the assailant, such a
man commits no offence.
17. He who refrains from killing an aggressor
who abuses him aloud, and is ready to murder him,
(because the aggressor) is a virtuous man (otherwise)
and practices regularly the recitation of the Veda,
obtains the same reward as for performing a horse-
sacrifice.
18. The judgment in a doubtful matter is declared
to be of four sorts, according as it is based on moral
law, or on the issue of the case, or on custom, or on
an edict from the king.
19. Each of these has been declared to be twofold
by the sages, owing to the diversity of legal affairs.
20. When the matter in dispute has been decided
according to equity, after due deliberation, and
15. Viram. p. 24. 16. Raghunandana, p. 9.
17. Viram. p. 25.
18. Viram. p. 8. See Narada I, 1, n (above, p. 7).
19-24. Viram. pp. 118, 119. I read, with Smrz'tiZ’., divyair va
sodhita/z in 21; prama«ani.$7zito in 22 ; and prama/zarahita in 24.
20,21. The first kind is when the truth has been duly ascer-
GENERAL RULES OF PROCEDURE.
285
offender. MaWavya acquired the reputation of a
thief in consequence of a decision passed without
considering the circumstances of the case.
14. Dishonest men may seem honest, and honest
men dishonest, so that wrong notions may be easily
created; therefore sentences should be passed after
due consideration of the circumstances only.
15. By killing an aggressor, a man does not
commit sin by any means. He who takes the life of
one approaching with intent to murder him is no
offender.
16. If one abused returns the abuse, or if one
struck strikes again, and kills the assailant, such a
man commits no offence.
17. He who refrains from killing an aggressor
who abuses him aloud, and is ready to murder him,
(because the aggressor) is a virtuous man (otherwise)
and practices regularly the recitation of the Veda,
obtains the same reward as for performing a horse-
sacrifice.
18. The judgment in a doubtful matter is declared
to be of four sorts, according as it is based on moral
law, or on the issue of the case, or on custom, or on
an edict from the king.
19. Each of these has been declared to be twofold
by the sages, owing to the diversity of legal affairs.
20. When the matter in dispute has been decided
according to equity, after due deliberation, and
15. Viram. p. 24. 16. Raghunandana, p. 9.
17. Viram. p. 25.
18. Viram. p. 8. See Narada I, 1, n (above, p. 7).
19-24. Viram. pp. 118, 119. I read, with Smrz'tiZ’., divyair va
sodhita/z in 21; prama«ani.$7zito in 22 ; and prama/zarahita in 24.
20,21. The first kind is when the truth has been duly ascer-